Spring walks set out this weekend across Cape

Friday

Apr 14, 2017 at 8:18 AMApr 17, 2017 at 2:28 PM

The Town of Barnstable's Land Acquisition & Preservation Committee (LAPC) unveiled its Spring Walking Series, happening from Friday, April 14, through Monday April 17. Each walk is accompanied by a guide. There's no charge to participate; just show up.

See if one suits you:

Friday, April 14, 10 a.m.: Crooked Cartway-Birds & Mushrooms

This 3 mile, 2 hour walk is a ramble through the West Barnstable Conservation Area in search of mushrooms below and birds above.

Directions: Take Route 149 (N or S) to the rotary at Cape Cod Airport (Marstons Mills). Go west on Race Lane for 1.1 miles. Take the right onto Crooked Cartway and go to end.

Friday, April 14, 3 p.m.: Sandy Neck Spring Wetland Walk

This is a 1.5 miles , 2 hour walk through the rich and diverse wetlands of Sandy Neck Beach from shallow dune swales to the cranberry bogs of the maritime forests. Hikers will look for signs of early spring activity including plants, invertebrates, breeding amphibians and the elusive and rare Spadefoot Toad.

It’s a light hike, not very strenuous, but be prepared to get muddy and wet. Rain/muck boots and bug spray highly recommended.

Directions: Follow Route 6A west toward Sandwich, turn left onto Sandy Neck Road. Follow until the end. Park in the gravel parking lot on the left hand side near the garage. Hikers wil meet at the Gatehouse Parking Lot.

Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m.: Hippie Hill

This 1.5 mile, 2 hour rugged terrain walk will take you to an excellent outlook 200 feet to Nantucket Sound.

It’s hilly, and the pace is dependent on group.

Directions: Take Route 149 (N or S) to rotary at Cape Cod Airport (Marstons Mills). Go west on Race Lane for 1.1 miles. Take right onto Crooked Cartway. Drive to end and park in gravel parking lot.

Sunday, April 16, 10 a.m.: Old Neck Lane Walk

This 1 mile, 1 hour walk features both natural history and Cape Cod history. The walk will cross through a typical Cape Cod pine/oak forest. Hikers will see evidence of how the Cape was carved out by glaciers and remnant of old stone walls from the early agricultural life of Barnstable.

It’s a very hilly landscape.

Directions: Meet at Cape Cod Community College Parking Lot #7. The entrance to the college is north of Exit 6 (Mid Cape Highway) on Route 132.

This is not a hike. It is a slow paced nature and bird walk. Families are welcome but please no dogs. It’s a 1.2 miles, 2 hour walk around Hathaway's Pond, a kettle pond set in a typical pitch pine and oak forest. It is a great area to look for and hear early spring migrants including ospreys, rufous sided towhee, pine warblers and more. It is also a prime spot for the state flower, trailing arbutus or mayflower which should be in bud if not blooming. The walk will circle the pond, a micro version of what the glacier left behind, and visit a vernal pool, stopping at several nice overlooks.

The terrain will be uneven and the walk will be at an easy pace.

Directions: Hathaway's Pond is located off Phinney's Lane on the Hyannis/Barnstable Village line. From Exit 6 (Mid Cape Highway) go toward Hyannis. Take a left at Phinney's Lane. Follow north towards Route 6A. The entrance will be about 1/4 mile down on the left. Follow the entrance road to the beach parking lot.

Monday, April 17, 10 a.m.: Woods to Great Marsh

This is a 4 mile, 2 hour walk through the Old Jail Lane Conservation Area and the Audubon's Great Marsh wildlife Sanctuary. Hikers will explore the varied ecosystems of cape Cod on a walk through the woods on ancient roads to historic 6A and across to the Sanctuary.